Verstappen Set for Nurburgring 24 Hours Challenge from Fourth on Grid

The Nurburgring 24 Hours returns to the Nordschleife, bringing one of the most demanding tests in endurance racing. Max Verstappen enters the event pursuing a victory at a circuit renowned for its volatility, technical difficulty and unforgiving 25-kilometre layout through Germany’s Eifel mountains.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion will begin the race from fourth position. During Friday’s qualifying sessions, the #3 entry narrowly missed the top spot, finishing just eight-tenths of a second behind team-mate Dani Juncadella after a tense shootout that underlined Red Bull’s overall pace across its cars.

Grid Positioning and Qualifying Outcomes

The front of the grid is dominated by Red Bull Team ABT, which secured the most advantageous starting positions for the marathon event. The #84 entry takes pole position, supported by the sister #130 car also starting at the sharp end of the field and giving the team strategic control over the opening hours.

The second row will see a competitive mix of manufacturers and teams. Starting alongside Verstappen’s entry is the #16 Scherer Sport PHX BMW, adding a layer of manufacturer rivalry to the early stages of the race and ensuring that any early mistake from the Red Bull camp is likely to be punished immediately.

For a driver of Verstappen’s caliber, competing in a 24-hour format requires a marked shift in strategy from sprint racing. The emphasis moves from raw pace to consistency, mechanical preservation and managing stint length, while navigating a dense field of cars of varying classes over a grueling distance and through day-night transitions.

Race Scale, Governance and Schedule

The sheer scale of the event increases the complexity of the race, with 161 entries fighting for position across the legendary circuit. Multi-class traffic management, Code 60 slow zones and safety car interventions can reorder the field in minutes, making risk management and pit wall decision-making as important as what happens behind the wheel.

The race is sanctioned and governed by the regulatory framework of the German automobile club ADAC, whose sporting regulations, safety protocols and technical scrutiny shape everything from driver licensing and mandatory rest periods to car homologation and tyre allocation. For manufacturers and sponsors, compliance with this framework is central to risk, liability and investment decisions around the event.

Event at a Glance:

• Start Time: 15:00 local time, with the field racing through dusk, darkness and sunrise before the chequered flag
• Total Entries: 161, spanning top GT3 machinery and multiple lower classes sharing the same narrow ribbon of tarmac
• Pole Position: #84 Red Bull Team ABT, with strategic support from the #130 sister car
• Key Contenders: #3 Team Verstappen, #130 Red Bull Team ABT, #16 Scherer Sport PHX BMW

Securing a win at the Nordschleife is considered a career milestone for any professional driver, regardless of their success in other disciplines. The combination of extreme weather shifts, blind crests, limited runoff and the circuit’s unique topography makes it one of the most prestigious trophies in global motorsport and a focal point for how teams, regulators and manufacturers stress-test technology, safety systems and decision-making under maximum pressure.